IoT satellite connectivity is expanding the range of viable use cases for connected devices, specialists told the IoT Summit at MWC26 Barcelona on March 11, 2026. Experts from Deutsche Telekom, Giesecke and Devrient (G&D), Verizon Business, Sateliot, and Skylo Technologies addressed attendees on how satellite and 5G convergence is reshaping the sector.
IoT Satellite Connectivity and the Case for Network Convergence
Jens Olejak, head of satellite IoT at Deutsche Telekom, said the operator’s strategy is to act as “the aggregator of networks”. He stated that customers should not need to determine whether their connection comes from terrestrial or non-terrestrial sources, only that it remains consistent and reliable. Deutsche Telekom’s model also covers roaming deals, allowing customers to access global coverage from a single SIM, device, and antenna.
Vijay Krishnan, VP of strategic partnerships at Skylo Technologies, said standardisation is central to delivering network-agnostic connectivity. He noted that 3GPP standards allow a device to run SIMs from multiple operators and connect seamlessly to both terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. Moreover, Krishnan argued that applying those standards to the large volume of smartphones shipped annually could drive economies of scale, reducing overall deployment costs for satellite-enabled devices.
Certification and Interoperability Challenges
Shahbaz Ali, VP of products and standards at Sateliot, said certification is a “very important topic when it comes to scaling IoT devices in the market”. He noted that companies currently conduct interoperability testing themselves to verify that devices function across both terrestrial and non-terrestrial infrastructure. Ali added that work with bodies such as the GSMA is ongoing to ensure new devices entering the market are properly certified and aligned with both network types.
In 2025, Sateliot worked with Nordic Semiconductor and satellite software specialist Gatehouse Satcom on a 5G IoT transmission between a standard cellular device and its low-Earth orbit satellites. The GSMA praised the project for helping to “define critical guidelines for roaming, interoperability and certification”.
Cost and Coverage Gaps Remain Key Concerns
Sam Colley, senior product strategist at Giesecke & Devrient, said pricing remains a significant consideration. He explained that if satellite connectivity is perceived as more expensive than terrestrial alternatives, customers will seek to minimise time spent on it. Colley also identified the handoff between networks as a technical challenge, stating: “switching from terrestrial to satellite is a very easy thing if you accept the roaming scenario. The trick really is then the switching back to the terrestrial network”.
Furthermore, Colley noted that slower non-terrestrial infrastructure deployments relative to land-based networks could leave coverage gaps in some regions. He described “pockets around the world” where all-encompassing set-ups “aren’t necessarily viable”. He also cited his own rural home as an example, where the absence of terrestrial coverage prevents the use of a smart meter, compounded by a local authority operating its own radio network.
Automotive, Cattle Tracking, and Parking Among Emerging Use Cases
Mark Custodio, associate VP in the cellular connectivity practice at Verizon Business, said the convergence of satellite and 5G in IoT opens the way for potentially life-saving applications. He highlighted the ability to contact emergency services when vehicles are involved in accidents outside terrestrial network coverage as one example relevant to the automotive sector.
Custodio also cited cattle tracking as a use case that could benefit from converged connectivity, noting the satellite element could monitor animals straying into the “5 per cent of areas where we might not have coverage” with current networks. In addition, he outlined a potential for IoT technology to enable vehicles to communicate directly with parking meters, addressing a growing risk of QR-code fraud in payment systems.
“When you take those standards and you take advantage and you have the tailwinds of that scale, if you attach satellite connectivity to those devices there’s just tremendous benefits.”
Vijay Krishnan, VP of Strategic Partnerships, Skylo Technologies
Outlook: Standardisation as the Path Forward
The panellists broadly agreed that standardisation represents a significant step forward for the IoT sector. The IoT Summit was one of 15 specialist streams running concurrently with the main MWC26 Barcelona sessions, covering topics including eSIM, digital health, satellite and NTN, the 5G future, and agentic AI. As deployment costs fall and certification frameworks mature, the range of devices and industries that converged IoT connectivity can serve is expected to grow.